Chord Electronics Hugo 2 Transportable DAC Headphone Amplifier - Chord Electronics

In 2014, Chord introduced Hugo, a revolutionary portable DAC and headphone amp that became a landmark product in the audio landscape. Advances in digital technology, including the latest FPGAs and WTA (Watts Transient Aligned) filters, have enabled Chord to introduce a next-generation version, Hugo 2, featuring flexible new features, plus next-generation technical and sonic performance.

Hugo 2 can be used both at home and on-the-go, either with headphones or within a conventional audio system. Its line-level output and full-function remote control adds real flexibility in full-size and desktop systems.
The device offers four digital inputs (optical, coaxial and HD USB) plus extended-range Bluetooth, with high-resolution file playback up to 768kHz and up to DSD512 (Octa DSD), via its HD USB input. Analogue outputs include 2x RCA, plus 3.5mm and 6.35mm headphone outputs.

A four-function switch filter offers a useful degree of user-selectable frequency-shaping, bringing warm and soft or transparent and incisive presentations, giving additional flexibility and user control. For headphone-listening, Hugo 2 retains the popular digital crossfeed function of the original and offers three operation modes. The system duplicates the effect of listening to speakers and is based on advanced binaural audio research.
Hugo 2 features four spherical control buttons, which illuminate with color-coding information and control power, input, filtering, plus the unit’s crossfeed functions.

Battery playing time is around seven hours and two modes of automatic charging are included using the dedicated Micro USB charging port; an indicator shows charging and battery-charge status.

Features:

• Materials: Clamshell precision machined aluminium casing with polycarbonate buttons, acrylic signal window, and glass viewing portal. Available in a choice of two colours – natural silver, and satin black
• Battery: 2x Rechargeable custom Enix Energies 3.7v 9.6Wh Li-ion (lithium-ion (2600mAh) batteries*
• Tap length filter: 49,152 – 10 element Pulse Array design
• Play time: In excess of seven (7) hours
• Charging: Nominal four (4) hours via Micro USB at 1.8amps (fast charge) – Nominal eight (8) hours at 1amp (slow charge)
• Connectivity (input)
• Micro USB (White): 44.1kHz – 768kHz – 16bit – 32bit
• Coax via 3.5mm Jack (Red): 44.1kHz – 384kHz – 16bit – 32bit
• Dual data mode input (using both BNC coax inputs together): 44.1kHz – 768kHz – 16bit – 32bit
• Optical (Green): 44.1kHz – 192kHz – 16bit – 24bit
• Connectivity (input wireless): Bluetooth (Apt X) (Blue): 44.1kHz – 48kHz – 16bit
• Connectivity (output): 1x 0.25” jack headphone output
• 1x 3.5mm jack headphone output
• 1x stereo (L & R) RCA output
• PCM support: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz, 358.8kHz, 384kHz, 717.6kHz, and 768kHz.
• DSD support: Native playback supported. DSD64 (Single) to DSD512 (Octa-DSD)
• Volume Control: Digital, activated in 1dB increments. Last known state saved upon shutdown, with exception of line-level mode
• Line-level mode: Activated via dual press of middle ‘Source’ and ‘Crossfeed’ buttons. Line level = 3v via all outputs. Reset by power cycle
• Power Saving Mode: Auto-shutdown after ten minutes of input inactivity
• Driver support: Driverless with Mac OS X and Linux, driver required for Windows OS

User Configurable Options

• Filters (Digital)
• Incisive neutral (Ultimate reference) (White)
• Incisive neutral HF roll-off (High Frequency roll off) (Green)
• Warm (‘Smooth’) (Orange)
• Warmer HF roll-off (High Frequency roll off) (Red)
• Crossfeed (Digital IIR)
• Off – No Crossfeed
• Level 1 – Light
• Level 2 – Medium
• Level 3 – Heavy

Included Accessories

• 2amp USB Charger
• 1.5m Micro USB Cable
• Micro USB to Micro USB OTG Cable
• Hugo 2 Owners Overview Manual

Specifications

• Chipset: Chord Electronics custom coded Xilinx Artix 7 (XC7A15T) FPGA
• Tap-length: 49,152
• Pulse array: 10 element pulse array design
• Frequency response: 20Hz – 20kHz +/- 0.2dB
• Output stage: Class A
• Output impedance: 0.025 ohms
• THD: <0.0001% 1kHz 3v RMS 300 ohms
• THD and noise at 3v RMS: 120dB at 1kHz 300ohms ‘A’ wighted (reference 5.3v)
• Noise 2.6 uV ‘A’ weighted: No measurable noise floor modulation
• Signal to noise ratio: 126dB ‘A’ Weighted
• Channel separation: 135dB at 1kHz 300 ohms
• Power output @ 1kHz 1% THD
• 94mW 300 ohms
• 740mW 32 ohms
• 1050mW 8 ohms
• Weight 0.99
• Dimensions (L x W x H”): 5.11 x 3.93 x 0.83
• Boxed Dimensions: (L x W x H”): 8.66 x 4.8 x 3.34

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